Jennifer Lopez looked radiant at the Oscars donning one of the most highly sought after styles, the top knot. Utterly timeless and beyond chic, the style is great for special occasions and every day wear. Joshua Gambrell, stylist at Lotus Salon of Eufora International shared with us some of his insider tips on how to get the look without ever having to leave home.

A top knot should look effortless so make sure your hair is long enough to pull into a ponytail at your crown. Use a brush to pull hair into the ponytail for a smooth look. Secure the ponytail with a small clear plastic band. For a smooth top knot, wrap the hair around the band and secure with hair pins (not bobby pins). Complete the look with a finishing spray and a shine enhancer to add some glam to the look, I love Eufora’s Illuminate Shine Mist.

For an effortless, more messy top knot, use your hands and fingers as hair is pulled back into a ponytail at the crown. Secure the ponytail with a small clear plastic band, but for this softer look, don’t pull the hair all the way through the band. The hair that has been pulled through, pin loosely with hair pins. Complete the look with a flexible finishing spray to avoid a crunchy feeling and hold the messy look, such as Eufora’s Elevate Finishing Spray.

Joshua Gambrell grew up with a talent for drawing and painting, but he was never really sure how he could transform his passion into a viable career. When a close friend suggested a career in hairdressing he knew there was nothing else he wanted to do. Now, nearly a decade later, Joshua is a respected stylist at the prominent Lotus Salon in New York City, the flagship salon for Eufora International. After receiving what he describes as “hardcore, old-school training” at cosmetology school, he became an assistant at one of the top salons in Lexington, Kentucky, upon graduation. Here he was trained in every aspect of hairdressing through the world renowned educators who often visited the salon.After leaving Lexington, Joshua started a new management position at another salon where his responsibilities as the educational and creative director included educating clients about various products and sculpting techniques. From there, he started working on runway shows during fashion week for designers such as Jillian Lewis, Nary Manivong, Lindsey Jones (Outlaws of the Border), Kati Stern (Venexiana), Adetacher, Caroline Siekaly, and, most recently, NAHM (Ally Hilfiger and Nary Manivong). He cemented the move to New York City when he began working for a salon developing an instructional program teaching haircutting to hairdressers from all over the country.

Joshua thinks the best reward from hairdressing is changing the way people see themselves. “As a hairdresser, you have the power to influence someone’s image. In the future, near or far, I always see myself making someone, somewhere feel beautiful,” he says.